Pakistan has agreed to host 15 Palestinian prisoners who were freed as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, according to a Hamas spokesperson. The announcement, made on Monday, described Pakistan as an "elder brother" for its willingness to support the Palestinian cause.
The ceasefire, which ended 15 months of war, began on 15 January and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.
The deal also saw Hamas agree to release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, while Israel committed to releasing 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 for every Israeli female soldier released by Hamas.
Dr Khaled Qaddoumi, a spokesperson for Hamas, confirmed that Israel had already freed nearly 180 Palestinians, some of whom have settled in Egypt, while several Muslim countries, including Pakistan, have expressed willingness to host released prisoners, Arab News reported.
"We have officially received confirmation that Pakistan has agreed to receive 15 prisoners. For this, we are deeply grateful to the Pakistani government, the Pakistani people, and the Pakistani establishment," Dr Qaddoumi said.
The government has not yet officially commented on its agreement to host the prisoners, but the move follows Pakistan's long-standing support for Palestine.
The development follows reports from Quds Press, which stated that 99 Palestinian prisoners had been deported to Egypt, with 263 more expected to be freed by the completion of the first phase of the release process.
The second phase of the deal will include the release of remaining Israeli hostages and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Since the onset of Israel's military offensive on Gaza in October 2023, Pakistan has provided humanitarian aid and launched a public donation fund to support the war-affected population in Gaza.
"We continue to uphold our commitment to Palestine, and we thank the Pakistani people and leadership for their ongoing support," Dr Qaddoumi added.
The conflict has led to devastating loss of life, with more than 47,000 Palestinians reported killed and widespread destruction in Gaza, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967.
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